Ulster Fillies wrap up successful season

C.J. Kohler grew up playing with and against her teammates on the Ulster Fillies.

Now they were facing elimination, which at this particular tournament meant it would be their last game together. The Fillies weren't ready to go out like that.

Ulster, which features several Section 9 high school standouts, capped its impressive season by finishing second out of 42 teams last week at the United States Specialty Sports Association national Under-18 tournament in Salisbury, Md. Facing elimination in the losers' bracket, the Fillies won nine straight to reach the championship, where they lost to the Delaware Diamonds 8-0.

"When we were one loss away from elimination, we were like 'it's time to turn it on,' " said Kohler, a pitcher who helped Valley Central to the last two Section 9 Class AA titles. "It was pointless to come that far and be eliminated so quick. We did it for ourselves and we did it for everyone back home. We wanted to make them proud."

The Fillies finished the season — which began in the fall — 44-10-1 and won five tournaments. They went 10-3-1 at the USSSA tournament, winning five elimination games in one day in the searing heat.

Along with Kohler, other Section 9 standouts on the team included Highland pitcher Carly Bilchak, Kingston outfielder Fallon Spriggs, Rondout Valley third baseman Ashley Sterritt, Valley Central catcher Alex Hraniotis and Valley Central outfielder Meg Foster. Former Kingston outfielder Ariana Darcy, who played for UMass-Lowell this year, also played for the Fillies.

"It was an amazing effort," Ulster coach Rick Spriggs said. "The heat was over 100 degrees, it was opressive. But they never gave in. They have been playing together since they were 11 or 12 and this was their last hurrah."